# Tell me all about buddy lists **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [May 9, 2007, 6:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-all-about-buddy-lists/403369 "2007-05-09T06:50:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![bbs2k](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e495f1/32.png) [@bbs2k](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bbs2k)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2007, 6:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-all-about-buddy-lists/403369/1 "2007-05-09T06:50:53Z")
I looked in the rules to learn about buddy lists but all I could really find was this: > [@](#): > > Buddy Lists - Basically, the same rules apply. Try to be discreet about who’s on your buddy list, and don’t use it as a tool to irritate / hurt the feelings of other members. So, would anyone like to expound on this anymore? What are they like? Are they easy to access? Do they automatically add subscriptions? Would someone know if they are my buddy if I added them, and is there even an etiquitte about asking? I would imagine not since CK said to be discreet about who’s on it, and it was written before the time of PM’s. There are a number of Dopers I love to follow, be that they’re intellectual, or interesting, funny, or other reasons. Now with the search time increased it just make’s it a bit more annoying to find them unless I trip across one of their posts in a thread. Tripping hurts dammit! ---
**Author:** ![Puzzler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d07c76/32.png) [@Puzzler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Puzzler)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2007, 10:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-all-about-buddy-lists/403369/2 "2007-05-09T10:42:07Z")
From the FAQ: > [@FAQ](#): > > The buddy list is used to keep track of the friends you have made on this forum. By going to your “My vB Home”, you’ll be able to see which of your friends are currently online, and be able to send them a private message. Adding people to your buddy list also allow you to send private messages to multiple forum members at the same time. You may add any member of the forums to your buddy list by clicking this button in a member’s posts. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2007, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-all-about-buddy-lists/403369/3 "2007-05-09T12:54:28Z")
Mainly it is just useful to see if someone is on-line or not. The new PM function is facilitated to a small degree by the buddy list. The “Buddy” is not notified that they are on your Buddy list. You cannot even use it as quick access to the User profile to check for recent posts. It probably will not be a big help in what you addressed in your OP. Jim ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2007, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-all-about-buddy-lists/403369/4 "2007-05-09T13:39:09Z")
Testing, testing… Regards, Shodan